67. It will be passed through generations.

TRINIDAD INSTITUTION While Lebyth was resting in the Corridor with other mental health patients, she watched the news about Briella being attacked by a mother and daughter, which is why she chose to stay in that place. For years, she remained silent and pretended to be ill just to escape reality. Not because she was afraid to face them but because her mind was more at peace thinking only of herself and her child—Briealla. Another reason was that she didn't want to succumb to the overwhelming anger she felt, as it was harmful to her condition. She was diagnosed with a Mental Breakdown or Nervous Breakdown, but with the help of a friend, she managed to overcome it. When her husband visited, she pretended to be out of her mind or wouldn't talk to him. She also knew everything that was happening to her daughter and was glad that she had found the right man for her. She walked to the office of her friend, the Doctor. It was probably time for her to leave that place and defend her daughter. She would help Briella reclaim everything that should have been hers long ago—starting by evicting and imprisoning those responsible for the loss of her youngest child. She knocked three times before entering, and upon entering, she was greeted by a forty-year-old man. His hair was turning white, but he still looked young. 'Leby, what's the matter?" he asked, putting down the paper he was reading and gesturing for her to sit. 'Did you watch the news?" she asked. 'News?" he replied, seemingly unaware of what she was referring to. 'They hurt my daughter," she said calmly. He took a deep breath, seemingly understanding what she meant. There was only one thing she promised before she chose to stay in that place. She could accept all the insults from acquaintances and relatives, but she would not allow anyone to harm her only child! 'So you decided to take action by yourself?" he asked. She nodded. 'Enough of my long silence," she said firmly. 'And what's the first thing you'll do when you leave here?" he asked, looking her in the eyes. 'I'll go to Briella. We need to talk, and I also need to apologize," she said. Those words were easy to say, but deep down, she didn't know how to do them. Renan nodded. 'Okay, do you want me to accompany you?" She smiled and shook her head. 'No, it's better if I go alone and meet her. I might not be able to answer her questions." He stood up and went to a drawer on the side of his office, returning with a small box. 'Take this; it contains all your belongings. I really kept this because I knew you would need it at the right time," he said, handing her the box. 'Thank you," she said, standing up. I will still visit you here, don't worry." 'Or we could go to a fine dining restaurant," he suggested. She smiled modestly. She didn't want to give him hope that it would happen because she wasn't ready to fulfill what he wanted. She was aware of the old bachelor's feelings for her, but he never found the right moment to confess because ever since she arrived there, she talked about nothing but her daughter and making those who hurt her pay. When she left his office, she then went to her room. Her friend owned the institution, and she was allowed to stay there until she decided to leave. Trina Trinidad is her best friend, but she is abroad, living there with her family. 'Are you leaving, Ma'am?" asked the Nurse who had been with her there. 'Yes, I need to sort out my life," she answered, packing her clothes into a large suitcase. 'It's good that you've decided to leave here. You really don't belong in a place like this," the Nurse said. She responded with a smile as she continued packing. She was also excited to finally leave after almost a decade of staying in that place without ever trying to go outside. After she finished packing, the Nurse helped her with her suitcase. Renan was waiting for her in the basement, leaning against a white Mercedes-Benz. When she approached, he handed her the car keys. 'Use this; just return it when you buy your car," he joked. She looked at him for a long time before smiling and taking the keys. 'Thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to overcome my illness. I will be forever indebted to you, Renan," she said and hugged the man. 'I'll do anything I can to help you, and you know that. Take care," he said and hugged her tightly before letting go. After saying goodbye to the Nurse and thanking them, she got into the car. Despite feeling nervous, she needed to be strong. She had to prove to everyone that she was a survivor. Watch out, Damian and Meryll! It's time for the two of you to suffer and be imprisoned! *** 'Ugh! I'm tired!" Briella exclaimed as they finally got home from the hospital. Today was her first check-up, and as expected, she was pregnant. She was one month pregnant, and they now had proof, courtesy of Nami. She frowned when she saw that Braun was still obsessively looking at the ultrasound picture given by Nami. 'Braun, are you okay?" she asked. 'Of course, I don't see anything here," he said, pointing at the picture he was holding. She laughed and approached him. 'You really won't see anything yet because our baby isn't fully formed. Didn't you listen to what Dr. Nami said?" she asked him. 'My eyes were on you the whole time," he replied. She raised an eyebrow at him but couldn't help smiling. She took a deep breath and flopped down on the sofa. 'Don't do that again, wife," Braun said, quickly coming over to her. 'Huh?" she said, looking at him in confusion. 'Nami told us to be extra careful, remember?" he said. 'I thought you didn't hear any of Dr. Nami's instructions?" she asked, her eyebrows meeting in a frown. 'I didn't say that," he said with a smile. She scowled and was about to scold him when their intercom, which was connected to the main gate of the subdivision, rang. Braun immediately answered it. 'Hello, Sir?" the guard greeted. 'There's someone here who wishes to visit Mrs. Briella. She says she's her mother." Hearing the guard's words, her ears rang, and she looked at Braun, who immediately understood what was on her mind. 'What's her name?" Braun asked. 'Lebyth Andrada Montañez," the Security Guard replied. 'What?" she couldn't help but exclaim. Braun looked at her for a long time before speaking again into the intercom. 'Let her in." 'Braun…" she called out to her husband. She wanted to say more, but her tongue seemed to retract, and she couldn't find the words to speak. 'You haven't spoken to your mother in a long time, right? Now that she's the one approaching you, shouldn't you face her and talk?" Braun said, holding her hand as they went out to meet her mother. She took a deep breath. How was she supposed to face her mother, whom she hadn't seen or been with for so long? And, for God's sake, when did she get out of the institution? Was she well now? Since when? With so many questions in her mind, she didn't realize she was already standing in front of her, seeing the hesitation on her face about how to approach her. This is going to be a long, long talk. When they faced each other in the living room, Braun left them to talk, excusing himself to prepare their dinner and inviting her mother to join them. Once her husband left, a long silence prevailed between them as if neither knew where or how to start the conversation. Then she heard her mother sigh deeply, and she clenched her fists as her mother began to speak. 'I… I don't know where to start," she said, releasing another deep sigh. She remained silent, her tongue refusing to cooperate, and her mouth wouldn't open to speaking. 'I'm sorry, my Princess. I'm sorry for not being there for you when you needed me," her mother began. She bit her lip when she heard her mother's voice crack, holding back tears that threatened to fall at any moment, trying to stay calm. 'It wasn't easy for me, losing a child, and the perpetrator was the man I gave all my love to. It wasn't easy, and I had a nervous breakdown. Every time I thought about the beatings from… from your Daddy, I panicked, felt pain, and was terrified. The loss of your sibling always haunted me," her mother recounted through tears. She couldn't hold back her tears anymore, remembering the event that destroyed their family. She would never forget the days she visited her mother in the Mental Institution, seeing her in distress, constantly speaking of the sibling she never got to welcome into this world. She quickly wiped her tears and took a deep breath. 'I thought I had no chance of getting better, but your Aunt Trina didn't give up on me and introduced me to the best Psychiatrist working there. I underwent psychotherapy and other medications. Every day, Renan reminded me that I had another child and that I needed to value myself and not succumb to fear. Eventually, I overcame my illness and fully recovered. I was ready to face your father but still didn't do it, letting him indulge in his greed. He visited me every day, but not once did he mention you or his separation from that woman. And they even had three more children—" 'Don't include my siblings in your anger," she cut her off. 'They are innocent and had no idea about what happened back then." Her mother was surprised by her words but nodded after a moment. 'But I can't overlook what Megan did to you!" she stated. 'What right does she have to hurt you and the future heir to all of the Montañez properties?" She sighed heavily. 'Mom, I'm not chasing after the inheritance. If they want to take it, I won't stop them, but I won't allow my other two siblings to be left out. My husband and I have discussed this, and I don't want to stress out, fearing it might affect our baby," she said. 'They can't take it because your father has no right to our family's wealth," her mother said with a smile. 'What do you mean?" she asked, puzzled. 'All of our family's assets are not in your father's name. From the beginning of our marriage, we agreed that the inheritance I received from my family would go to you, to your children, and then to the first child of your children's children. It will be passed through generations. So you see? No matter what they do, it will be in vain, and tomorrow, I will talk to our lawyer to transfer the company's ownership to you and clear our house of cobwebs. It's time to put the rotting trash in its place."